Palantir is a relative newcomer to the detense industrial complex. Founded in 2003, the company develops sottware "that empowers organizations to effectively integrate their data. decisions, and operations at scale" according to its most recent annual report. Palantir works with defense, intelligence, and disaster relief agencies. The value of the company's stock has increased almost 285% over the last year going from abour $24 a share to its current price of approximately $87 a share. At its peak in early February it was trading for almost $113 a share. While this pales in comparison to the stock price of huge defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, it does suggest that the company has had somewhat of a breakthrough.

Palantir co-founder Alexander Karp recently released a book entitled The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West. At a recent book event before the Economic Club of New York, Karp said one of the things that has attributed to Palartir's success is the fact they are meritocracy. He also spoke at length about his desire to keep good people in the organization. The Technological Republic criticizes software development that focuses on the current social media landscape geared towards the consumer (i.e. video-sharing. socializing and marketing) The book also highlights how artificial intelligence (AI) will change the nature of national defense and calls on leaders to prioritize integrating Al into the public sector. While the ins and outs of Al and its impact on weapons systems is not for everyone. The Technological Republic is still a great study of how a young start-up company is shaking up an industry.